I thank you all for your responses. I have had a passion for quilts since I was a small child watching the elders hand stitch everything. My grandma used to make collars and cuffs and bibs for judges and lawyers in our town. They were the finest linen and all by hand and were startched just so. Her quilt was on a board that daddy nailed on the wall by her chair under the window. She'd just pull it out toward her and add to it. She was disabled with her walking before her 60's so she had everything at arms length, even a nosey grand daughter who worshiped her. I can't hand stitch worth a flip. Wish I could, but I'm about too old to get the grasp of it let alone hold a tiny little needle. Machine sewing is my love. I've sewn everything you can think of at one time or another, on this old Kenmore and I love her to pieces. I need a new cord or a new motor. I hope he can put just a cord on it. Keep yer fangers crossed, well think of crossing them. You can't sew with yer fangers tied up. Love
Ruth

Our guilds take all level of members, and do not question your experience. They are all there to help and encourage each other. So definitely try to find a guild you feel comfortable with, they are very worth it. :D

Our guild has a demo on something every month. We sign up to take turns showing a technique or pattern we have learned.

I wish there had been guilds around when I started in the early 70s. There weren't any books in print or magazines until around 1976. Now they are all everywhere. Fun!

please do not think you are not worthy---walk arround a quilt show and listen in to the comments 95% you can hear positive comments even if they dont like the quilt--the 5%are not worth worrying about not happy people--i over heard a comment 'it would be quite good if she had spelt the title right"so so if you are clever enough to get a picture uppp WE NEED EYE CANDY PLEASE hope i did not hurt your earsyou tube is a great teacher

In my area Hancocks has relatively inexpensive classes and so do the LQSs. Check out local guilds before joining any. Seems like all of them are different. Here there's two. One is very exclusive. It's a group of friends that get together to sew and they don't allow anyone else in. The other one never sews, they only have business meetings. I joined a "club" called the Strips and Scraps club. We meet once a month and sew for several hours at a local quilt store. It's free but it seems I never get out of there for less that $10 or $15 dollars, sometimes more. Check around, ask at your quilt stores.

Are there any churches in your area that have a quilt ministry? I did not even know how to sew before I joined the one at my church. The women there are so knowledgeable and helpful.

Ruth, I have had the best luck taking classes at my LQS. I belonged to 2 guilds but they were just too big for me. One was in Syracuse and one was in Columbus.
I don't really know why b/c I'm very outgoing and not intimidated by a large group but guilds just didn't do it for me. My quilt group is 15 members and we go to each others homes once a month. It's so inspiring and fun!!
Just telling you what works for me :D
HUGS, Sue

Thank you. I feel there might be hope for me. I'll look around. I'm not much of a clubber, but I love to learn.

Blessings,
Ruth

I wish I lived close to you. You seem like such a sweetheart and I would love to sew with you. I have no one to sew with and it gets lonely sometimes but I have a very supportive family (none of them sew) who encourage me. I am blessed.